Written by Rex Vogel, RVing with Rex explores North America one meaningful place at a time through destination guides, history, slow travel, and thoughtful storytelling. Drawing on years of RV travel and firsthand experience, the site helps readers move beyond simply seeing places to truly experiencing them.
Find a physical activity you love to do and then do the hell out of it.
Whether it’s climbing, swimming, running, biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, playing football or hockey, pickleball, snowshoeing, cross-country sking, blazing a trail, picking wildflowers, jogging with wild goats, or caving, get out there and bask in the fresh air.
If you tend to be a more indoorsy person, it’s also possible to find a lot of great indoor physical activities from karate, dance, and fitness to using a climbing wall to going bowling (yes, bowling counts—just go easy on the nachos).
When you get active your body starts humming like a fine-tuned machine. You start feeling like you can take on the world.
There’s nothing quite so healing and spiritually revivifying as spending time in the great outdoors.
Listening to the loons out on the lake and contemplating the horizon or walking a quiet forest trail as shafts of sunlight danced between the trees has a kind of magic that nothing else can match.
Nature has been linked with the divine and with spiritual regeneration since the earliest days of humankind and it’s still a place of refuge and peace every day for people all across the world.
As Taoism founder Lao Tzu put it: Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Getting into flow is actually terrible advice. The problem is that it’s not explained well. If you go with the flow and just let life slide by you aren’t really getting into the flow. You’re just letting things slide.
Truly getting into flow is about pursuing your passion and becoming so wrapped up in what you do that you lose track of time and everything else.
If it’s a musical instrument, mathematics, or picking apples, the point is to actually do it.
Truly going with the flow is less about letting go of everything and more about holding on to only one thing.
To do this you need to find your intuitive expertise and then capitalize on it.
You encounter thousands of events, decisions, and objects in everyday life—but if you don’t notice them, they can’t trigger inspiration. Practicing mindfulness helps you pay closer attention to ordinary events and find environmental triggers for inspiration.
Many inventors and entrepreneurs become successful by noticing what’s not in the environment rather than what is and finding ways to fill the gap.
For example, Uber’s founders had the idea for Uber when they couldn’t get a taxi in Paris while Mary Anderson invented windshield wipers after watching her streetcar driver clean snow off the windshield.
Gulf State Park has become a mecca for lovers of the great outdoors vacationing on the Alabama Gulf Coast. A destination within the destination, there’s so much to see and do within the park’s 6,150 acres and 28 miles of trails.
Gulf State Park is a wonderful destination for experiencing nature and enjoying the beach. You can engage in a wide range of activities such as saltwater fishing, sunbathing on the beach, hiking and biking on the fantastic trails, and learning about the environment at the nature center. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or education, this state park has something for everyone.
Where Is Gulf State Park?
Gulf State Park is a beautiful natural oasis in the heart of Gulf Shores, Alabama. This stunning park spans over 6,500 acres and boasts some of the most breathtaking natural scenery in the region. It’s near major cities in Alabama and Florida including Orange Beach and Pensacola Beach.
Gulf State Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The trails and picnic areas are only open from sunrise to sunset. The main office is open on weekdays from 8 am-4 pm. Facilities within the park have varying operating hours throughout the year.
Tip: To avoid disappointment, call ahead to confirm facility hours of operation before visiting the park.
Driving to Gulf State Park
The park is conveniently located close to I-10. From I-10, take exit 44 which will lead you through several communities and then to the park. Alternatively, you can take the Foley Beach Express toll route for a faster arrival.
Getting around Gulf State Park
The most convenient way to explore the state park is by parking your vehicle at a designated parking area and then walking to the different points of interest. Additionally, more than 29 miles of hiking trails and boardwalks are available for exploring on foot or by bicycle. The park provides a map to assist you in planning your adventures.
Gulf State Park offers abundant adventure and natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, nature centers, and beaches.
Angler Academy
Angler Academy is a seasonal program available at Gulf State Park from May to August. It is designed for those interested in saltwater fishing to learn the basics. The lessons on the pier cover fundamental concepts, techniques, rules, and regulations for saltwater fishing in Alabama and the necessary tools and equipment to catch big fish.
To participate in this program, you must have a temporary fishing license. It can be a fun group activity for 2 to 12 people. The cost per person is $15.
Beaches
Immerse yourself in the sub-tropical paradise of Gulf State Park where over 3.5 miles of pristine, ivory-sand beaches await your arrival. Whether you seek a serene escape or an adventure-filled day with your loved ones, these family-friendly beaches are the perfect spot to bask in the sun and create unforgettable memories.
Depending on when you go, you might encounter gentle, still water that’s perfect for wading in or you might experience more waves if you want to go surfing.
Since the campground is only 1.5 miles away from the beach you can easily walk back and forth. Since the beach is part of a state park, there are plenty of educational activities during the summer for young families.
The water usually doesn’t start getting warm enough to swim in comfortably until June but it can stay at a comfortable temperature until well into November. Even when it’s too chilly to swim, you can still take a leisurely walk on the sand.
Visitors traveling with furry friends should check out the Dog Pond at the Lake Shelby Picnic Area. This area is open from 8 am to sunset and offers dogs the chance to run and play off-leash. The area has playground pieces allowing dogs to explore tunnels, jump through hoops, and enjoy the lake’s green grass and cool water. It’s an excellent spot for your pup to have fun and exercise.
Fishing
This park is perfect for anglers as it offers various fishing options. You can enjoy saltwater fishing off the pier or freshwater fishing from Lake Shelby. The park has several fish species including bass, bream, catfish, croaker, king mackerel, speckled trout, and redfish. Fishing is an excellent activity for those who want to experience the park’s natural beauty, view the wildlife, and even catch dinner.
Tip: Should you fish during your visit, a fishing license is required.
This state park has more than 29 miles of paved trails and boardwalks. These trails exhibit the park’s several unique ecosystems. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system connects Orange Beach and Gulf Shores and several trails are part of this system.
Recreational opportunities along the trail include biking, hiking, wildlife watching, playgrounds, fishing, and camping.
For the second consecutive year USA Today named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail the best recreational trail in the country for 2024.
The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. Along them, you can see spectacular sights including live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and amazing wildlife such as bobcats and alligators.
The park provides a map to help you plan your hikes during your stay and the trails vary in length and difficulty offering options for every age and ability. The most popular trails include Rosemary Dunes, Gopher Tortoise Trail, and Lakeview Trail.
The park has made biking easier for its guests by implementing a free bike share program. There are 50 bikes available to rent at stations scattered throughout the park. To ride, download the Bloom Bike Share App and scan the code at the station. The first three hours are free of charge. And, when you’re done, return the bike to the nearest station.
If you’d like to travel the trails by Segway, contact Coastal Segway Adventures at the main park office near Lake Shelby. They offer two-hour guided tours throughout the park. Their knowledgeable staff will first run through some safety drills and information. Then, they’ll guide you along the trails sharing information about the park and its wildlife. Most tours also include a stop to say “hi” to the park’s resident alligator, Lefty.
If you’re looking for an exciting and educational experience, plan to spend some time at the Nature Center. Located in the campground, the center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am-4 pm. Visitors can explore an interactive living museum featuring diverse plants and animals native to the Gulf Coast region.
The Nature Center offers various weekly programs including beach walks, pier walks, nature walks, and nature time. These programs provide opportunities to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the region and are suitable for visitors of all ages. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or just looking for a fun outing with the family, the Nature Center is a must-visit destination.
Visitor Center
The Gulf State Park Visitor Center is an excellent starting point for your visit to the park. It’s located in the Lake Shelby Picnic Area and provides visitors with trail maps, parking passes, and a chance to chat with knowledgeable staff. You can also purchase official gear here. The center is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am-4 pm.
If you ever get a chance to visit Gulf State Park, you’re in for a treat! However, it’s essential to plan your trip carefully. Some times of the year are better than others depending on the event or activity you’re interested in.
There are various reasons why some people prefer to travel during the winter season. Should you want to visit the park during wintertime, February is the best month. It’s the driest winter month with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-60s. With a jacket, exploring and enjoying the park this month is comfortable.
Many travelers yearn to explore this park in a peaceful environment. The ideal time to visit the park to evade crowds is in November. A visit during this month will enable you to explore the park at your own pace without worrying about long lines, traffic, and crowded areas.
The best time to visit the park for ideal weather is in October. This month, the temperature typically ranges from the upper 50s to the low 80s, perfect for outdoor activities. Another advantage of visiting in October is that there are usually only 4 days of precipitation making it an excellent time for an adventurous trip.
This park hosts various events throughout the year including family days, holiday celebrations, and educational activities. Some events are held annually.
First Day Hike
The First Day Hike is an annual event on January 1 in the park. This fun and adventurous event allows visitors to explore the park’s beautiful trails while getting in their first workout of the year. A naturalist will lead the hike and take visitors to various park highlights such as Lake Shelby and Branyon Beach.
Shark Week
Shark Week is an annual event held in early July. It offers various fun and educational activities for visitors of all ages. You can attend the Marine Fisheries Ecology Program presentations, interact with stingrays in touch tanks, and take guided tours of shark habitats. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their role in the ocean ecosystem.
Deciding on accommodations is one of the most important tasks when planning a vacation. Fortunately, this park offers you a wide range of options both inside and in the vicinity of the park.
Inside the park
There are many accommodation options available within the park’s boundaries. Whether you prefer camping under the starry sky, staying in a luxurious hotel, or residing in a cabin near the lake, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
This state park is an excellent location for campers who enjoy a comfortable, convenient outdoor experience. With 496 sites available for tents and RVs, the park provides a scenic natural backdrop for nature enthusiasts. The campground offers various sites including waterfront, pull-through, and back-in sites with modern amenities.
All full hookup camping pads are at least 45 feet (most back-ins) to 65 feet (most pull-throughs) long with more than enough room for big rig RVs with pullouts, have picnic tables, and pedestal grill tops (no fire rings are available but you are welcome to bring your own that are above ground). There are 11 modern, air-conditioned bathhouses throughout the Campground.
Recently, the park added three glamping sites and 11 primitive sites to cater to the preferences of contemporary campers. The glamping sites provide a luxurious camping experience with upscale amenities, including king-sized beds, air conditioning, and outdoor kitchens. The primitive sites are perfect for those who prefer a more traditional camping experience.
Cabins
There are 20 cabins visitors can stay in at Gulf State Park. The two styles offered are the woods cabins and lakeside cabins. These cabins provide unmatched views of Lake Shelby, longleaf pines, and the palmetto forest of coastal Alabama. Cabins have various bedroom choices and feature full kitchens, dining areas, outdoor seating, and more.
Gulf State Park has a beautiful set of Eagle Cottages available for rent. These well-equipped cottages have modern amenities to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. Each cottage has a unique design and is surrounded by lush greenery, offering a serene environment. The Eagle Cottages are perfect for families and groups of friends who want to enjoy the park’s natural beauty while staying in a cozy and private cottage.
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a Hilton Hotel, truly captures the essence of Gulf Shores. It’s an eco-friendly property located in the heart of the park. The Lodge offers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern luxury.
There’s something for everyone at The Lodge. The breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, miles of pristine white sand beaches, and endless outdoor recreation opportunities make it the ultimate destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. You can explore the park’s hiking and biking trails, go fishing or kayaking, or simply relax by the pool.
The hotel’s on-site restaurants and bars offer dining and entertainment options that will satisfy even the most discerning guests.
Towns near Gulf State Park
Whether you prefer the bustling atmosphere of beach towns or the charming tranquility of quaint communities, there’s an ideal place just a short drive from the park.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf State Park is an exceptional natural asset in Gulf Shores. As a means of optimizing your visit, Gulf Shores makes an excellent base of operations given its immediate proximity to the park.
This delightful city presents a perfect location for exploring the park’s awe-inspiring beauty in conjunction with its copious recreational opportunities. Gulf Shores provides an extensive range of accommodation options to suit your needs, whether you prefer a camping experience, a cozy bed and breakfast, a sumptuous resort, or a budget-friendly hotel.
In terms of dining options, the city offers a diverse array of restaurants with culinary delights, from succulent seafood dishes to delectable barbecues.
Orange Beach, Alabama
Orange Beach is an optimal choice for visitors seeking to stay near the park, a mere 2.5 miles away. This coastal city offers a wide array of dining, lodging, and recreational options catering to its visitors’ varied interests and budgets.
Tip: Orange Beach offers an extensive range of recreational activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking allowing visitors to take in the picturesque beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
You have various dining options to choose from at Gulf State Park. Here are some popular choices whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal in an upscale setting.
Foodcraft
Foodcraft is an upscale restaurant located on the picturesque coast within the park. It serves delectable American cuisine focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The menu also includes a wide selection of regional craft beer, wine, and signature cocktails.
The cherry on top is breathtaking views of the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico which can be enjoyed from the restaurant’s spacious outdoor patio.
Roasted Oak
Roasted Oak is a charming establishment that caters to caffeine and wine enthusiasts alike. During the daytime the cozy space transforms into a bustling coffee shop offering a wide range of hot and cold brews, delicious pastries, and breakfast items to start your day off right.
As the sun sets, the atmosphere changes and Roasted Oak becomes a sophisticated wine bar serving a selection of fine wines from around the world, tasty appetizers, shared plates, and grab-and-go items, perfect for a romantic evening out or a catch-up session with friends. With convenient hours from 6 am-10 pm daily, Roasted Oak is the ultimate destination for a satisfying and memorable experience.
Perch
Perch is a magnificent restaurant nestled inside the park where you can indulge in the most heavenly cocktails and cuisine. The menu offers a tantalizing selection of coastal seafood and classic American favorites cooked to perfection by expert chefs. To accompany your meal, you can choose from a unique selection of wines or one of the handcrafted cocktails.
While you unwind from a day exploring the park, you can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico from the restaurant’s elevated position. It’s an experience sure to leave you with a lasting memory.
Gulf State Park, one of the first five parks created in Alabama, opened on May 20, 1939.
2. The Eagle cottages are noteworthy
The 11 Eagle Cottages were listed in National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World in 2019.
3. The CCC built the park
In the past, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the initial 16 cabins at Gulf State Park. What’s interesting is that cabins 3, 7, and 11 were constructed sideways facing the east and these are considered lucky dice numbers. This has led many to question whether the designer of this area was an avid gambler.
4. It has the largest pier on the Gulf
Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is the only public pier on the Gulf of Mexico and the largest pier in the Gulf.
5. There are ecosystems galore
There are nine distinct ecosystems at Gulf State Park including pine savannas, maritime forests, fresh and salt marshes, dune ridges and sand scrub habitats, freshwater and brackish lakes, dunes, the beach and gulf, and coastal swales.
Gulf State Park is a captivating destination that allows visitors to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and indulge in the breathtaking natural beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The spotless beaches, exhilarating trails, and exciting events appeal to every visitor. With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that this state park attracts over 600,000 annual visitors.
FAQs
How much does it cost to visit Gulf State Park?
An all-day parking fee is $10. Additional fees apply for park amenities and activities.
How much time should I spend at Gulf State Park?
It is recommended that you spend 5 to 7 days exploring Gulf State Park due to the park’s abundance of activities and sights.
Are there sea turtles at Gulf State Park?
Sea turtles nest in Gulf State Park and regular turtle festivals and programs offer a great opportunity to learn more about these magnificent creatures. If you’re lucky, you may even spot one during your visit.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota is a fitting tribute to the bully pulpit president who helped birth America’s conservation movement through sheer force of will: It protects an imposing landscape that is simultaneously both desolate and full of life.
Bison roam the grassy plains and elk wander along juniper-filled draws. Prairie dogs squeak from mounds leading to their underground dens and mule deer bed down on the sides of clay buttes. There are antelope and coyotes, wild horses, and bighorn sheep and you can spot them all with a little patience.
When the sun goes down the layers of sedimentary rock come alive in the softer light: black veins of lignite, blue-gray layers of bentonite and rust-colored deposits of scoria. Stand atop a butte during the golden hour and the park takes on a whole new hue—and temperament. Perhaps no national park has such a split personality from afternoon to evening.
In 1884, Roosevelt himself retreated to this wide-open country after his wife, Alice Lee, and his mother, Mittie, died only hours apart. The Bad Lands he wrote of the area, “grade all the way from those that are almost rolling in character to those that are so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to belong to this earth.”
In later years, he credited this landscape as having soothed him after his personal tragedies and set him back on course. “I have always said I would not have been President had it not been for my experience in North Dakota,” he once noted.
The North Dakota Badlands not to be confused with South Dakota’s Badlands National Park have been cut over eons by the muddy Little Missouri River as it flows north and the national park comprises three separate units totaling more than 70,447 acres.
The South Unit lies along Interstate 94 adjacent to the tiny gateway town of Medora (just 112 full-time residents) and serves as the main recreational focus for most visitors with its scenic driving loop and two dozen trails.
The North Unit lies 70 miles away (an 80-minute drive) and while it has services such as a visitor center and a road through the badlands, it receives far fewer visitors.
The Elkhorn Ranch Unit—the homesite of Teddy’s Roosevelt 1880s cattle ranch—lies in between. It has no services and most visitors make it a quick stop.
Visiting them all is manageable over two or three days.
Summer is peak season for the park’s 700,000 annual visitors but even then you’ll be all alone on hiking trails in the park’s far corners pondering with the same awe what Lewis and Clark must have experienced when they stumbled on these badlands during their 1805 journey across the continent.
With numerous activities outside park boundaries, easy drives inside it, and plenty of trails—ranging in length from 0.1 miles to 96—Theodore Roosevelt National Park appeals to those ages 50 and over whether they’ve just completed an Ironman triathlon or are simply looking for a paved stroll.
The largest nearby city is two hours east (137 miles) in Bismarck, the state capital.
Many visitors drive up from South Dakota’s Black Hills, home to Mount Rushmore 260 miles to the south (more than four hours by RV). That may seem like a haul but the route north along U.S. Route 85 offers some of the best stretches of the unbounded openness of the Great Plains. You’ll see views that extend so far off into the rolling distance that it often feels as if you can see the Earth’s curvature.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s entrance fee is $30 per vehicle with the pass valid for all three units of the park for seven consecutive days. (A $20 annual America the Beautiful Senior Pass for those 62 or older gives holders access to all national parks and many federally managed recreational lands.)
Restroom and visitor facilities spread throughout the main drives make pit stops easy. The surrounding area’s recent oil-shale boom spurred the expansion of cell networks meaning good coverage for such a sparsely populated area (although you may experience the occasional dead zone depending on your carrier). Only the main visitor centers offer Wi-Fi, however.
Shoulder seasons when visitor numbers drop and animals roam more freely are the best times to visit. Summers are hot with average temperatures in the high 80s and the occasional thunderstorm. Spring rain showers often transform the hillsides to a bright green interspersed with the red scoria rock underneath. In fall, leaves of the giant cottonwood trees along the Little Missouri River turn golden and there may be no better time to camp in the park. Winter, when temperatures can plunge to single digits is much slower in terms of visitation and many side roads are closed but fresh snow on the badlands may be one of the most remarkable sights of all.
There are no hotel options inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park but it does have two campgrounds for RVs and tents although no hookups. Both are locate in towering cottonwood groves near the Little Missouri River with views to the bluffs beyond. Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit has 72 sites; Juniper Campground in the North Unit, 48.
Sites are spread out enough that you have some privacy and each has a fire grill and a picnic table. The camps have potable water and flush toilets in summer but no showers.
There are no restaurants or stores in the park to buy food, water, firewood, or other supplies so bring everything you need. Despite the lack of amenities there’s always the thrill of waking up in the morning with wild horses or a bison walking through the cottonwood trees.
You can reserve a campsite up to six months in advance at recreation.gov although half the sites are first come, first served. Permits are $14 per night ($7 for seniors) in summer and $7 ($3.50 for seniors) from October through April.
For lodging, restaurants, and stores near the park, Medora is your best option (see the Gateway towns section).
Theodore Roosevelt National Park may be one of the West’s most unheralded national parks but those who have experienced its charms know it’s all about the bewitching badland views. It’s also one of the region’s most accessible national parks for a quick tour: Both the South and North units have scenic driving loops on which you can take in the majority of sites from the comfort of your car and many of the most remarkable features—the South Unit’s prairie dog town near Skyline Vista, for example—have paved walking trails adjacent to parking areas making them wheelchair accessible.
Drive
You can see a whole lot from your car without having to get out and do extensive hiking like up to an edge of a glacier or something. The bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs—you can see them all just as easily from your front seat as after a three-mile hike.
The South Unit’s 36-mile loop begins and ends at the visitor center in Medora and it’s easy to complete in two hours (that includes time to snap photos of bison or prairie dogs). On the drive, don’t miss the Skyline Vista an ideal vantage point for viewing the sunset, Badlands Overlook which in the morning light reveals all of the contours of sheer bluffs and ravines, and Cottonwood Campground for a picnic under the tall trees.
For another easily accessible point in the South Unit including for those using wheelchairs the Painted Canyon Visitor Center—accessed from outside the park on Exit 32 of I-94—offers an iconic view of the Badlands. From the overlook the park stretches off toward the north with juniper draws, scoria-topped buttes, and grazing buffalo dotting the landscape.
The 28-mile round-trip road in the North Unit impresses with similar stellar views including two Little Missouri River overlooks, the Oxbow and Riverbend overlooks. Both will wow you but Oxbow delivers the more impressive view of the river below and the Achenbach Hills which stretch to the horizon across the muddy water.
Elkhorn Ranch is undeveloped—meaning no visitor services—but the drive to it parallels the river valley and once there you can walk next to the stone foundations that once supported Roosevelt’s cabin.
Exploring the park on foot is the best way to get up close with the terrain and wildlife and you’ll find more than 100 miles of trails. The hikes are mostly short (under a mile or two) and flat as the highest buttes only rise a few hundred vertical feet. But be mindful of the summer heat: Average highs climb to the mid-80s and it often feels hotter and drier so bring plenty of water.
The hiking can range from moderately difficult down to easy depending on the time of year and where you’re going. It can be more intense especially during a hot summer day but we’re not talking huge elevation gains.
In the South Unit two can’t-miss short hikes are the Wind Canyon Trail, a 20-minute (0.4 miles) stroll through a wind-sculpted canyon with stunning river views and the Coal Vein Trail, a 40-minute hike (0.8 miles) that is the perfect way to learn about badlands geology. For example, you’ll see and better understand the layers of ancient history: gray bentonite clay from distant volcanoes, black coal from plants and animals that once lived in the humid swamps that covered the area, and brick-colored clinker that formed from burning coal lit by wildfires or lightning strikes.
In the North Unit, a good hour-long option is the 1.5-mile portion of the Achenbach Trail to Sperati Point which courses through prairie grassland to a lookout over the valley below.
Biking
Cycling, an increasingly popular park activity offers a novel way to explore the main roads at a slower pace although you’ll be competing with cars on busy summer days.
Average road cyclists can complete the South loop in three or four hours. Dakota Cyclery in Medora rents bikes.
The only town associated with the park is Medora and it more or less revolves around its status as Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s gateway. It plays up its history as an old railroad junction and does its best Old West impression: wooden boardwalks, hitching posts in front of hotels, chuckwagon diners, and plenty of cowboy boots and hats. It all can feel overdone at times but discovering the town’s charm only happens when you fully embrace the kitsch.
Medora’s many lodging options are mostly middle-of-the-road motels and basic kitchenette cabins. The best place to book: the 76-room Rough Riders Hotel in the heart of town named for the volunteer cavalry unit Teddy Roosevelt commanded in the 1890s (it’s rumored the 26th president gave a speech from one its balconies). It’s a mix of Old West charm—tin ceilings, for example—and modern conveniences such as walk-in showers.
For dining, start your morning at Farmhouse Café which does everything well from pancakes to steak and eggs. Come lunchtime, its salads and sandwiches.
For dinner, the Boots Bar and Grill features tasty pub food and Theodore’s Dining Room serves a bison osso bucco. At the Pitchfork Steak Fondue restaurant, chefs load steaks onto, yes, pitchforks and plunge them into hot oil to cook. Enjoy your meat fest al fresco with tables on a bluff overlooking town—and the setting sun.
Medora has three main attractions. The Medora Musical bills itself as the West’s rootin’-tootinest, boot-scootinest show. For two hours nightly there’s singing and dancing and live horses on stage—all in an outdoor amphitheater with sunset views.
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, a museum devoted to Western cultures and Native Americans gives you a glimpse into the area’s ranching and rodeo history.
Saddle up yourself at the Medora Riding Stables on the edge of town for hour-long rides up buttes and into canyons.
Just outside Medora, the 26-room Chateau de Mores State Historic Site is the former summer home of a wealthy cattle baron. Constructed in 1883, it’s now a museum delivering an authentic look into what life in the badlands might have been like back then.
Being the park’s gateway, Medora fills up with visitors during the peak months of June, July, and August so you’ll need reservations for lodging and many of its activities.
Driving west from Bismark take the worthwhile detour at Exit 72 on I-94 to see North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway, seven oversize metal sculptures spread along a 32-mile stretch of two-lane highway. The first art installation, Geese in Flight claims a Guinness World Record for largest scrap-metal sculpture (110 feet high and 154 feet wide).
If you’re driving north from Rapid City, South Dakota—the gateway to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore—keep your eyes peeled as you drive out of the town of Bowman for a cheeky art installation on the western side of Highway 85: a kitchen stove sitting alongside a ditch with its door open. A sign reads Open Range. It’s more of a comment piece than real artwork but it makes its point regardless.
Driving northeast from Billings, Montana stop at Makoshika State Park outside the city of Glendive for a taste of the geologic badland formations to come at Theodore Roosevelt National Park plus view the fossil remains of dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex. A triceratops skull in the new visitor center is worthy of the natural history museums in Chicago and New York.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience. I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you’ll soon discover the magic of this park.
Snow Canyon State Park is filled with great hiking, beautiful Navajo sandstone formations, ancient lava rock (basalt), and out-of-this-world views, so come along, as we tour this amazing hidden gem.
On the edges of ecosystems, eras or civilizations, you’ll find some of the most remarkable travel destinations. Snow Canyon State Park is one such place. Located at the edge of the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau, Snow Canyon State Park explodes with dramatic geology perfect for your outdoor adventure—and photo opportunities.
Cut by water, sculpted by wind and time, Snow Canyon’s Navajo sandstone cliffs share the same history and geology as Zion National Park to the east. You may find yourself wondering why it isn’t a national park.
As recently as 27,000 years ago lava flows exerted their powerful force reshaping the canyons and creating the park’s distinctive landscapes. The blend of Navajo sandstone cliffs, petrified sand dunes, and broad lava fields make this terrain a fantastic playground for both adventurous travelers and families looking to give kids an outlet to expend some of their boundless energy.
Snow Canyon State Park is one of those state parks often overlooked by people touring Utah. While Utah is obviously known for The Mighty Five and as a prime destination for winter recreation as well, there are also 43 state parks. Many of these parks are just as majestic as the national parks but without the crowds. Also, state parks are generally dog friendly.
Snow Canyon State Park is located in southwestern Utah near the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. If you are planning to stay close to the park, the best city to stay in is St. George because it is just an 11-mile drive.
When to visit Snow Canyon State Park
Spring and fall have average high temperatures of 80 degrees and 73 degrees respectively creating a sweet spot for active adventures at Snow Canyon. Summer can get pretty warm with very little shade available but getting out early in the day is ideal. Winter packs mild temps and all activities remain available.
Despite its name, the park rarely sees snow. (The park is named for Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, Utah pioneers, not the white precipitation.)
Snow Canyon State Park is about 7,400 acres located within the 62,000 acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The reserve was established to protect the desert tortoise! I wish I would have been able to see one on our visit here. It was created in 1959 and opened to the public in 1962.
It is likely that humans have been using this park for more than 10,000 years based on the artifacts found in the park. The users of the park ranged from Paleoindian mammoth hunters to 19th century settlers.
Why is it called Snow Canyon?
When people hear the word snow they often think of frozen white stuff falling from the sky. While it is possible for Snow Canyon to receive snow, it’s not common.
Snow Canyon was originally called Dixie State Park but was later renamed. The snow in Snow Canyon is in reference to two early Utah leaders, Lorenzo and Erastus Snow.
The park is also known as movie sets for a few Hollywood films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
There are more than 38 miles of hiking trails, excellent biking trails, opportunities for technical climbing, and more than 15 miles of equestrian trails.
Hiking
Hiking is the prime activity in the canyon. As soon as you drive in, you can quickly see why. Gorgeous red and white sandstone streaks together with black lava flows spilling along the canyon floor- create a perfect playground for exploring on foot. Along with slot canyons to enter and lava tubes to explore, the sweeping vistas and overlooks might have you grabbing for your camera. You’ll need more than one day to do a thorough job of exploring the park’s 18 hiking trails
Check out my list of the most popular below. Distances are roundtrip.
Note: Most of these trails do not have shade. Come prepared with water (1 liter per person) and plenty of sun protection (UV clothing, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses).
Hike through a jumbled lava field, the vivid remains of a long ago volcanic eruption.
The Lava Flow Trail, also known as the Lava Tubes is a 2.5 mile, family-friendly trail that takes you back in time. The trail takes you past three lava cave entrances. Entering the caves can be a little dangerous as it can get dark and slippery at times. There is a dedicated parking for the trail head.
Difficulty: Easy, level with a few slopes and steps
This is a very short trail with easy access from the road; a great children’s trail that leads to a short, sculpted slot canyon. According to the park brochure, kids enjoy this trail the most due to the geological features and because it’s a slot canyon.
It will take you half an hour to complete the hike but it might take you longer if you decide to take time to admire the Snow Canyon Sand Dunes on your way.
Petrified Dunes Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate, some uneven surfaces and steep slopes
This route crosses massive Navajo sandstone outcrops and sand dunes frozen in time.
A favorite of many, this hike takes you to one of the best viewpoints of the park. The trail is relatively well marked but you’ll definitely want to wander around and explore the unique formations in the area. It’s located in the heart of Snow Canyon State Park and one of the most photographed hikes in the canyon due to its unique beauty.
Difficulty: Easy, fairly level with some steps and slopes
This crescent-shaped trail passes pioneer names written in axle grease dating back to 1881.
This trail is accessible from two different parking lots. From the North lot, it is less than a quarter-mile to the end and the southern lot is a little more than a mile long. The hike takes you to a canyon wall that was written on by early pioneers. The axle grease writing has been preserved by an arch that hangs over it and provides a reminder of the early settlers in the area. It’s a sandy trail, so make sure to bring a good pair of shoes.
Butterfly Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate, some steep slopes, steps, and uneven surfaces
Winding along the west side of Petrified Dunes this trail leads to West Canyon Overlook and lava tubes.
You can access this trail from its own parking lot or continue from Petrified Dunes Trail (see above) since they intersect. It is best known for winding along the petrified dunes and leads to several overlooks and lava tubes.
The best time to do it is in spring and fall. Start in the morning to better appreciate the great views. It’s not a family hike since it has plenty of uneven surfaces.
Difficulty: Easy, level with some rocky slopes and steps
Leads to a sheltered canyon of willow and cottonwood winding through lava flows and red rocks to an arch spanning 200 feet.
Passing through stream beds, lava flows, and a beautiful canyon this trail is a grand experience. The canyon is more shaded than many of the other hikes making it one of the best hikes for the summer and fall months. It’s a great place to take a rest and enjoy quality time with your family and friends, and it will only take 1 hour to hike it. This trail also has seasonal closures, so check the availability before you plan your trip.
Besides simply biking the main road through the park, two other bike-friendly trails exist. The first is Whiptail Trail, an out-and-back, paved path that runs from the south entrance and through about two-thirds of the canyon. Delightful for bikers of all experience levels but the last quarter mile is steep. There’s always the option to turnaround before this steep climb.
The second bike path is West Canyon Road. Once a road, as its name suggests, it is a dirt and gravel path. Beefier tires than those of a road bike are needed but you won’t need a high-end mountain bike to enjoy this trail. The road runs four miles up the canyon and takes the west fork at the end of the canyon that will lead you past the Whiterocks Amphitheater at the northern end. This path traverses parts of the park that no other trail will show or lead to.
Access the West Canyon Road at Sand Dunes picnic and parking area for an eight-mile round-trip excursion.
Well-known for its incredible rock cliffs, you’ll find from short sports clip-ups to mixed multi-pitch routes in Snow Canyon. With more than 7,100 acres available, rock climbing is one of the top outdoor activities to do here. Take a look at these areas and pick your next rock climbing route.
Ideal for trad climbing, this trail allows you to descend at the dead end of Johnson Canyon. If you go during the week, it is almost always empty so you will have the wall for yourself. These are the coordinations: 37.17970°N / 113.6347°W. You can climb all year long.
Hackberry Wash
At this trail, you can do trad and sport climbing. If, if you are coming from St George this will be the first crag in the park. It is close to Jenny Trail (see above). The best time to climb is spring, fall, and winter.
This sandstone is located in the middle of Snow Canyon. To reach the top you have ledges, dihedrals, and ramps that will be a huge help. The level of difficulty is moderate and it has an elevation of 3,780 feet. There is no easy pathway in this sandstone, be prepared. You can visit any time of the year.
Balkan Dome
One of the shortest routes in Snow Canyon but is fun to try. You can reach this part via the Pioneer Names Trail (see above). Everything is covered with sandstone that sometimes makes it harder to climb, so be patient. Is located across the Islands of the Sky and is an ideal route for sport climbing. The best time to go is summer, fall, and spring.
West Canyon
Probably the most complete trail since you can not only do trad and sport climbing but also hike. This canyon features five routes that range from 5.8 to 5.11c. You can access it via the Three Ponds trail. The coordination is 37.19330°N / 113.6425°W.
Horseback riding
There are several trails open to horseback riding in Snow Canyon: Beck Hill Trail, Chuckwalla Trail, Gila Trail, Lava Flow (only between West Canyon Road and turn-off to White Rocks Trail), Rusty Cliffs, Scout Cave Trail, Red Sands (from West Canyon Road Trail to the west), Toe Trail, West Canyon Road, and the equestrian trail (starting at Johnson’s canyon lot and running parallel to whiptail until the sand dunes lot, from here the trail parallels West Canyon Road).
If you don’t have your own horses, a guided experience is offered by local companies. Take a leisurely stroll with an equestrian friend and soak in the views, floral, and fauna and everything Snow Canyon has to offer the senses.
Petroglyphs
If you hike the Gila Trail to about the halfway mark, trail markers designate petroglyph sites. These illustrations, carved into stone by Native Americans, are delicate historical landmarks and are fun to examine.
Canyoneering combines hiking with rappelling allowing exploration into slot canyons and down-climbing through the canyon. It’s a unique outdoor adventure that doesn’t exist in most places but the area has lots of options. Snow Canyon has two canyoneering routes, both of which require an access permit. If you want to explore Island in the Sky or Arch Canyon, secure a permit through the state park’s website or contact a guide company to take you.
Wildlife
Snow Canyon isn’t just famous for its hiking trails, rock climbing walls, and sandstone cliffs but also for its unique wildlife. You can find coyotes, kit foxes, quail and roadrunner, and sometimes tortoises and peregrine falcons in this State Park.
Millions of people come from across the country to watch leopard lizards, gopher snakes, canyon tree frogs, and sometimes tortoises and peregrine falcons.
There are thirteen sensitive species protected by law within the park including the Gila Monster which is the only venomous lizard in the United States. The best time to watch the wildlife is at dawn and dusk. You will have plenty of time to go hiking and observe the wildlife since the park opens at 6:00 am and closes at 10:00 pm.
A night or two under the stars is the perfect escape from a fast-paced lifestyle. Snow Canyon State Park is the ideal place to find those stars and quiet nights. The campsites will have you feeling like you’re camping in the Flintstones’ backyard with views of a cinder cone towering above and petroglyphs etched into rocks.
There are 29 camping sites at the Snow Canyon State Park; 13 are standard sites with no hookups and 16 are sites with partial hookups that come with water and electricity. Most sites are not big-rig friendly. Group camping is also available. All sites are reservable online through reserveamerica.com.
Final thoughts
Snow Canyon State Park is truly one of the most beautiful places in all of Utah! Southern Utah is a well-known location for outdoor activities and Snow Canyon should be on any outdoor lover’s list whether you visit with friends or family.
Absolutely! It’s one of the most popular parks in Southern Utah and has so many hidden gems like the Petrified Dunes or Lava Tubes that will blow your mind. It’s a great place to try new outdoor activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and camping. Also, it’s less crowded than Zion National Park or any other National Park located in Utah.
Are dogs and other pets allowed in the park?
If you’re planning a trip with your furry friend, this is going to make you really happy because you’re allowed to bring them with you! However, they must be on a leash around the campground and they can only accompany you to the Whiptail Trail and the West Canyon Rim Trail. Take into consideration that the leash must be a maximum of six-feet long.
Address: 1002 N. Snow Canyon Road, Ivins, UT 84738
Phone: 435-628-2255
Hours of operation: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Directions
From I-15 northbound: Take exit 6 (Bluff Street). Go north on Bluff Street to the intersection with Snow Canyon Parkway. Turn left onto Snow Canyon Parkway and proceed approximately 3.5 miles and turn right onto Snow Canyon Drive. Follow this road to the south entrance of the park.
From I-15 southbound: Take exit 10 (Washington). Turn right off the ramp then an immediate left at the light. Follow this road for approximately 5 miles to the intersection with Bluff Street/ SR-18. Proceed through the light and continue on Snow Canyon Parkway for approximately 3.5 miles and turn right onto Snow Canyon Drive. Follow this road to the south entrance of the park.
Utah resident: $10 per vehicle (up to eight people); $5 per vehicle (up to eight people); seniors 65 and older (with UT driver’s license); $5 pedestrian/cyclists (up to four people)
Non-resident: $15 per vehicle (up to eight people); $5 pedestrian/cyclist (up to four people)
Camping fees:
Non-hookup sites: Standard sites $40 per night; hookup sites (water/electric) $45 per night; extra vehicle fees (one extra vehicle per site permitted) $20 per night
Worth Pondering…
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.
Iconic giant cacti are the stars in this photo-ready Southwestern desert preserve
A 40-foot saguaro strikes an invincible pose: bristling with defenses, assertively towering over every other living thing in the landscape, seemingly confident in its life span of 200 years or longer.
—Larry Cheek, Born Survivor
A sea of towering columnar saguaro cacti stretches out before you like a brigade of soldiers guarding the desert landscape. Formidable with their spiny armor, it’s hard to imagine America’s largest cactus is the species that needs safeguarding.
Found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert, this enduring symbol of the Southwest which requires just the right amount of heat and moisture to survive faces threats such as invasive species. The 91,327 acres that comprise Saguaro National Park in southeast Arizona provide the perfect climate as well as protection for vast forests of saguaro (pronounced Sa-WAH-ro) cacti to thrive.
These desert monarchs can grow upwards of 60 feet tall, weigh more than two tons, and live for two centuries. But while they’re certainly the park’s stars they’re far from the only reason it attracts more than a million visitors annually. For one thing, there are 24 other cactus species ranging from the fuzzy-looking teddy bear cholla to the pancake-shaped Engelmann’s prickly pear.
Despite the harsh desert environment an abundance of flora and fauna flourish here including such native species as the roadrunner, horned lizard, kangaroo rat, and the prehistoric-looking Gila monster. At the park’s higher elevations topping out at 8,666 feet, you’ll find oak woodland and pine forests that are home to black bears and the elusive coati which resembles a raccoon.
Saguaro National Park’s two distinct districts—the western Tucson Mountain District and the eastern Rincon Mountain District—are separated by the city of Tucson. The western district is lower in elevation, has denser patches of saguaro, and is known for its iconic Southwest landscape. The eastern section larger and more mountainous contains six biotic zones and 6,000 plant species and it’s second in biodiversity to the Amazon rainforest.
President Herbert Hoover established the area as a national monument in 1933 and during the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) laid the groundwork for tourism by building walking paths and installing picnic benches and visitor shelters. It wasn’t until 1994 that the area earned national park status.
Today the park’s proximity to Tucson combined with recently installed handicap-friendly amenities ranging from paved walking paths to picnic tables with overhanging ends for wheelchair access makes it one of the nation’s most accessible national parks.
Approximately 30 miles apart, Saguaro National Park’s eastern and western districts hug Tucson, Arizona’s second-largest city with a population of 541,482. From downtown, you can drive to either park entrance in 20 minutes. The western district gets twice as many visitors as the eastern district thanks in large part to its proximity to the bucket-list Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (see below).
Each district has its own visitor’s center open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Both offer accessibility features including designated parking spaces, accessible restrooms and drinking fountains, paved paths, and captioned orientation programs. Both also have bookstores, information centers, and water-filling stations.
The National Park Service recommends drinking at least one gallon of water per day and during hot summer months at least one quart per hour when hiking. Be sure to have a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a pack with clothing layers since it can get cold at higher elevations. Neither visitor center has Wi-Fi and cellphone service is spotty throughout the park.
The Red Hills Visitor Center (also called the West District Visitor Center) hosts a daily educational program on the Native American perspective on the saguaro that’s well worth the time.
The Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (the East District Visitor Center) serves as the starting point for the scenic Cactus Forest Loop Drive, an 8-mile, cacti-lined road that you can drive or bike. To reach the hiking trails from the visitor center you must drive into the park on the Loop Drive. The first trailhead with parking is about 2 miles along the drive and begins at the Mica View Picnic Area.
The Bajada Loop Drive is the best way to explore the western district’s foothills providing plenty of photo ops at pullouts and picnic areas plus access to trailheads. Although the 6-mile loop is unpaved you certainly don’t need a four-wheel-drive vehicle. It begins at Hohokam Road, a mile and a half west of the visitor center.
Since the park has no concessions pack a picnic lunch. Six picnic areas are accessible by vehicle—two in Saguaro East and four in Saguaro West—and each has a charcoal grill, a wheelchair-accessible pit toilet, and paved ground surfaces.
Saguaro is open daily except for Christmas Day. Annual visitation would almost certainly be higher if the summer months weren’t unbearably hot with triple-digit daytime temperatures. If you do visit in the summer, plan activities for early morning or the end of the day. This may be the desert but June 15 through September 30 is monsoon season so expect severe afternoon thunderstorms and even flash floods.
Cool temperatures ranging from the high 50s to the mid-70s make November to March prime time to visit.
And in spring—specifically the last two weeks of April through the first week of June—the park is a photographer’s paradise with cacti sprouting vivid blooms in hues of white, fuchsia, and canary yellow. June is a favorite time in the park. The flowers are usually at their peak. It’s an amazing sight to see but this isn’t the time of month to hike. Take in the blooms on a scenic drive.
You won’t find any lodging options in Saguaro National Park or even camping options in the park’s western section. To experience the desert, reserve one of the eastern district’s six designated backcountry campsites ($8 a night) which can be accessed only on foot and require a base level of fitness to reach. Limited facilities include vault toilets. Water is unreliable, so you should pack your entire water supply for your trip, carry a filter, and check current water reports at the visitor center (520-733-5153).
Manning Camp, the home of former Tucson mayor Levin Manning that sits atop the Rincon Mountains is a tough uphill day hike but worth the effort. To do this hike in a day takes a solid eight hours but you go from seeing saguaro forest and Gila monster lizards to aspen groves and owls in one day. It’s a unique ecosystem up there.
You can take the Douglas Spring Trail or the Arizona Trail both of which have campgrounds along the way if you prefer to break the trek up into two days. The original Manning cabin built in 1905 now hosts trail crews and researchers, and from April through September a ranger is stationed here. The six tent sites are nestled in a conifer forest at nearly 8,000 feet and temperatures rarely exceed 85 degrees—a welcome relief from the valley floor’s sweltering heat. A waterfall fed from a large pond makes this one of the rare sites with a reliable water source.
The amenity-rich Gilbert Ray Campground sits just outside the west entrance to the park close to the Brown Mountain Loop trail. It features 130 RV sites ($20 per night) and five designated tent sites ($10 per night) plus picnic tables and modern restrooms with handicap accessibility.
RV parks ranging from luxury resorts to the basic are less than a 30-minute drive away in Tucson.
With 192 miles of marked hiking trails, Saguaro National Park offers treks for visitors of all abilities. No matter your fitness level, be sure to plan your hikes to avoid the midday desert heat and pack plenty of water. And remember, those photogenic cacti are covered in spines so keep to the trail to avoid getting pricked.
For an easy stroll that doubles as an intro to the desert ecosystem walk the quarter-mile Desert Ecology Trail along the Cactus Forest Drive in the East District or the half-mile Desert Discovery Trail off of Kinney Road in the West. Both paved trails include resting benches and interpretive exhibits on the park’s plants and animals.
The 0.7-mile Mica View Trail in the east which begins at the Mica Picnic Area parking lot was recently flattened and hardened to meet ADA standards and support wheelchairs. On this hike, you’ll likely glimpse Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers in their saguaro nest holes and you’ll take in views of Tanque Verde Peak and Mica Mountain.
If you want to challenge yourself, try the eastern district’s Tanque Verde Ridge Trail by the Javelina Picnic Area off of the Cactus Loop Drive. The strenuous 18-mile hike gains 4,750 feet of elevation and passes through all six of the area’s biotic zones.
On the west side, access the King Canyon trailhead outside of the park off of Kinney Road and zigzag up to the summit of 4,687-foot Wasson Peak, the highest point in the Tucson Mountain Range. Approximately 7 miles round trip with 1,939 feet of elevation gain, this moderate hike passes rock walls carved with ancient petroglyphs and an old stone miner’s hut.
In this, one of the country’s most bike-friendly national parks, take your pick of four excellent scenic loops for road cyclists and mountain bikers. The popular and aptly named Cactus Forest Loop next to the East District Visitor Center runs for eight miles on a paved, rolling road that you’ll share with vehicles. On the park’s west side, the six-mile Bajada Loop Drive off of Kinney Road, a gravel path passes a giant forest of saguaros.
Watch the sunset
The desert sunset may rival the saguaros as the park’s most Instagrammed natural wonder. As dusk falls, the setting sun turns a brilliant red that paints the sky in pinks and oranges worthy of a Monet painting. On the easy-to-access Desert Discovery Trail off of Kinney Road in the West District, catch sunset views through a forest of saguaros. On the east side, the Cactus Forest Loop Drive remains open until 8 p.m. giving you plenty of time to pull off and savor sunset at the Javelina Rocks Overlook near the loop’s end.
Learn
Rangers typically lead four to six different daily talks and interpretive tours that explore topics including desert survival, the lifespan of a saguaro, and misunderstood predators such as the mountain lion. Both park visitor centers have cactus gardens with interpretive signs you can explore on your own or with a ranger. Also, both districts co-host monthly stargazing nights with a local astronomy group. Participants must sign up in advance.
Most of Saguaro National Park’s rock art dates back to the prehistoric Hohokam culture. Abstract designs including spirals and squiggly lines as well as drawings of animals, humans, and astrological objects have been etched onto the surface of sandstone and other rocks throughout the park.
The best place to view the petroglyphs is along the Signal Hill Trail which starts at the Signal Hill picnic area off of Hohokam Road in the West District. Starting at the Signal Hill Picnic area, the 0.3-mile trail gently climbs to a hill with more than 200 petroglyphs believed to have been created between 550 and 1,550 years ago.
Tucson is flanked on either side by Saguaro’s western Tucson Mountain District and the eastern Rincon Mountain District making it an ideal base for day trips. A dream destination for fit foodies, Tucson owns bragging rights to being one of America’s most bike-friendly cities as well as having America’s first and only UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation.
On the Loop, a network of 131 miles of paved bicycle paths you can access Saguaro National Park as well as a plethora of other parks, shops, and restaurants on two wheels. Transit Cycles and Bicycle Ranch are the city’s go-to bike shops.
For a hearty breakfast before hitting the park, head to Prep & Pastry’s east side location on Grant Avenue and order the oven-roasted sweet potato hash and breakfast sandwich with avocado. After working up an appetite biking or hiking in the park reward yourself with a prickly pear mojito and a braised lamb tostada at Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails run by James Beard Award-winning chef Janos Wilder.
Head to Penca, an upscale Mexican eatery in the heart of downtown for the best happy hour in town: two tacos for $5 and $5 sangria.
Two not-to-miss open-air shopping centers anchor downtown’s hip Mercado District on the west end of the city’s modern streetcar line: Mercado San Agustín and the MSA Annex. At the latter, a collection of 10 indie businesses housed in repurposed shipping containers pick up nostalgic Saguaro National Park-inspired gear at Why I Love Where I Live and home goods crafted by local artisans at Mesa.
The burgeoning town of Marana, an alternate gateway to the West District is located about 15 miles north of the visitor center. Don’t miss the pork carnitas at La Olla Mexican Café and stop by Catalina Brewing Co. to try craft ales brewed with local ingredients such as prickly pear fruit and mesquite flour.
Located down the road from the West District Visitor Center, the Arizona–Sonora Desert Museum ranks as the state’s second-most-visited attraction behind the world-famous Grand Canyon. Part natural history museum, part desert botanical garden, and part zoo, this 98-acre, indoor-outdoor attraction showcases more than 55,000 plants from 1,200 native species along 2 miles of gravel and paved trails.
View native animals such as coyotes, raptors, hummingbirds, ocelots, and piglike javelinas in re-created habitats. Learn about the area’s geology in the Earth Sciences Center and view nature-inspired exhibits throughout the year at two on-site art galleries.
Geology fans detour to 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park, a 15-minute drive southeast of Tucson in the community of Vail to explore its extensive underground cave network. One of North America’s largest dry caves it took more than two years to map the 2 miles of passageways open to visitors.
Guided tours, which range from 40 minutes to 3.5 hours, require a decent fitness level, as you’ll be descending 350-plus stairs, scrambling down ladders, and crossing rock bridges to view stalactites and stalagmites sculpted throughout millions of years.
Back above ground, you can mount a horse at the park’s La Posta Quemada Ranch for a guided trail ride.
If you’re a fan of art and history, visit the village of Tubac, 40 miles south of Tucson. Established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio, Tubac has emerged as a destination for artists with top-notch galleries and studios. For tasteful souvenirs, this is your one-stop shop for turquoise and silver jewelry, Navajo blankets, and mesquite furnishings.
Tumacácori National Historical Park, less than a 10-minute drive from the village explores the region’s Spanish colonial past. The expansive grounds include a museum, the ruins of three Spanish mission communities, and the state’s second-oldest church.
Saguaro National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience. I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you’ll soon discover the magic of this park.
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The dramatic dunes become your personal sandbox here in southern New Mexico
The world’s largest gypsum dune field covers more than 275 square miles in southern New Mexico with White Sands National Park the centerpiece of this remarkable landscape. Great waves of white roll across the open plains of this 145,000-acre park with stark mountains rising in the distance.
In the morning light when shadows add dimension to the dunes it’s possible to lose your sense of perspective in the endless undulations. In the blinding midday sun when you’re sitting atop a 60-foot dune and the wind is howling you can feel as if you’re adrift on a great bleached sea, sand hitting your face like salt spray from the ocean.
It’s a magical environment and a true natural marvel. White Sands is also one of the newest parks in the National Park Service (NPS) having been elevated from a national monument in 2019.
The sands form after the playa in the park’s western end which has a very high mineral content fills with water. When the water evaporates, the minerals form gypsum deposits that get carried away by the wind eventually forming white sand dunes not unlike an ocean breeze sculpting a beach. The park contains roughly 40 percent of the gypsum dune field; the remainder is on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range which the military controls and restricts to the public.
This is the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert and the bare Sacramento Mountains rise dramatically above the Tularosa Basin. Far from being barren, however, the park is full of life. Even the sand itself is in constant flux with the massive dunes moving upward of 30 feet per year thanks to the winds that shape them.
The park is also home to a range of species including more than 250 birds, 50 mammals, 30 reptiles, and even one fish. At least 45 species are endemic to White Sands including the Apache pocket mouse and the bleached earless lizard. In summer, because of the heat, most of the animals are nocturnal but it’s possible to see the park come alive in the dawn light and just before sunset. Indeed, it’s often surprising just how full of life this pocket of the Chihuahuan Desert is.
Of course, the gypsum dunes are the main attraction and they provide dramatic photo opportunities especially during the golden hours just after sunrise and before sunset. March through June is peak season for the park’s nearly 800,000 annual visitors but even then it doesn’t feel crowded. Also, most visitors tend to stick to Dunes Drive, an 8-mile road through the park so you can easily avoid them by parking and hiking a trail.
Since White Sands National Park is in a remote part of the state it takes more than a few hours behind the wheel to get there no matter where you’re coming from. But this part of the West seems designed for long drives that go by quickly thanks to the open landscapes.
The park usually closes at 8 p.m. in spring and summer (6 p.m. in winter) but during full-moon nights from May through October it stays open an extra few hours so visitors can enjoy the spectacle—and it is a spectacle. The full moon lights up the white sand which reflects the light into the night sky creating an almost spectral atmosphere. It’s an experience worth the extra effort and one you’ll not soon forget.
El Paso, Texas is 98 miles south of White Sands National Park via Highway 70, the main road to the park. Albuquerque, New Mexico is 223 miles north. Either option is a good starting point for a road trip exploring southern New Mexico which could include stops in the towns of Las Cruces and Roswell and even a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park roughly 180 miles southeast of White Sands.
In the summer, temperatures in this part of the Chihuahuan Desert can soar above 100 degrees, and in winter they can plummet below freezing. That’s why spring, early summer, and fall are the best times to visit with midday temperatures usually around 80 degrees and lows in the 50s. If you plan to hike bring layers of clothes for any temperature as conditions can shift dramatically.
Restrooms and visitor facilities are limited. The park’s single entrance has a visitor’s center with a gift store that offers some basic food options (essentially a convenience store) but that’s the only place in the park offering services. In other words, bring plenty of water no matter what time of year you visit as well as snacks.
An even better idea: Pack a full picnic as there are three picnic areas with shaded tables (and nearby restrooms) inside the park. You’ll find restrooms at the visitor’s center and along Dunes Drive and one of the only handicap-accessible restrooms at Interdune Boardwalk right off the main road just before the pavement on Dunes Drive ends.
There’s no Wi-Fi signal in White Sands National Park and very limited cell reception so plan to navigate the park using paper maps or those saved on your device. White Sands Missile Range is still an active military facility and one of the strange charms of visiting the area is having to wait on Highway 70 if a drill is being conducted in the area. The roadblocks rarely last more than an hour—though they can last up to three—but that can throw off the timing of a trip if, say, you’re planning to make it back to Las Cruces for dinner. (Check the park website for information on road closures.)
There are no hotels or campgrounds inside White Sands National Park. Even primitive backcountry camping is currently closed. You must stay in a nearby city or campground. (See gateway towns)
Things to do
Take a drive
White Sands is famous for its white sand so you must get out in it even if that means just cruising along Dunes Drive which begins at the park’s entrance. But even from a car, you can get a sense of this natural phenomenon’s uniqueness as the road curves through and around the dunes.
You feel as if you’re exploring a distant planet in a sci-fi movie. Although paved for a short distance most of the road is hard-packed sand because the dunes shift each year and the road must adjust accordingly. The park maintains it frequently enough, though, that a two-wheel drive will suffice.
Of course, hiking up the dunes themselves is the best way to feel what makes these white waves so special—the tiny gypsum grains underfoot. Of the park’s half-dozen trails, the easiest is the half-mile Interdune Boardwalk. This wheelchair-accessible trail on an elevated boardwalk makes its way through the interdune landscape where the desert and its limited vegetation meet the barren dunes.
For something slightly more challenging hit the Dune Life Nature Trail, a 1-mile, self-guided loop through the desert. The hike which starts from the first parking area you pass after entering the park isn’t difficult but requires walking up two dunes with loose sand. The jaunt is an easy way to see the dunes in all their glory and maybe spot animal tracks such as those from a lizard or even a kit fox (however rare it may be).
For something strenuous opt for the park’s longest hike, the Alkali Flat Trail which begins at the far end of Dunes Drive. This 5-mile round-trip hike leads you around Lake Otero where the gypsum sand begins its life. There’s no shade or water available on any of the park’s trails but it’s especially critical to bring some fluids along for this hike as you’ll be exposed to the heat for at least a few hours.
Despite the trail’s name, you’ll be climbing up and down dunes most of the way. The upside? You’ll probably be all alone. As you walk it’s likely the wind will quickly erase your footprints making the hike feel even more remote.
White Sands’ elevation is roughly 4,000 feet which you’ll notice when hiking over long distances or up the dunes. Bring plenty of water and dress in layers if you take a longer hike; the elevation means the temperature can shift dramatically over a few hours and dehydration can set in quickly in the heat of the day. Don’t start a hike if the temperature is already above 90 degrees.
Biking is allowed on Dunes Drive and it’s a unique way to experience the park. Since much of the road is unpaved, however, it’s best not to ride a road bike with skinny tires. You’re better off with a mountain bike or beach cruiser with wide tires. Outdoors Adventures in Las Cruces rents a range of bikes including e-bikes with fatter tires (from $30 per day).
You can even sled on the dunes. Buy plastic saucers in the park’s gift store then just find a good dune for some sliding-in-the-sand fun (and sand in your shoes to prove it).
Alamogordo, the nearest city to White Sands National Park is 17 miles northeast of the park. This town of 31,000 serves mainly as a civilian hub for White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base just a few miles outside of town. This part of New Mexico has a long military history with a special connection to the early space program and the dawn of the Atomic Age.
Learn more about that history at Alamogordo’s New Mexico Museum of Space History whose exterior resembles a NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. It’s an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution with exhibits encompassing a wide range of subjects from the early days of the U.S. space program including rockets, astronaut suits, and satellites.
An outdoor exhibit, the John P. Stapp Air & Space Park features many early space-flight vehicles including the Little Joe II rocket, a testing rocket for the Apollo program. Look for one of the museum’s highlights out front: the grave of Ham the Astrochimp, the first hominid launched into space, in 1961.
One of the largest pistachio tree grooves in New Mexico, PistachioLand is a destination that can be enjoyed by all ages. Located in the Tularosa Basin outside of Alamogordo it’s an easy day trip from Las Cruces and can be combined with a visit to White Sands National Park. The Tularosa Basin has the perfect climate for growing pistachios, pecans, and grapes. There are numerous wineries and nut farms where you can enjoy delicious wine and nut tastings and beautiful views of the Sacramento Mountains.
The city’s lodging choices are basic including a Fairfield Inn and Suites and a Hampton Inn. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, 15 miles south of town has 15 RV sites with water and electrical hookups and 24 other sites as well as restrooms with showers.
Alamogordo’s dining options are similarly basic but still good. D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, is a bar and grill serves steaks, pasta, and salads. Rizo’s Restaurant, a classic Mexican joint has excellent street tacos and larger burritos as well as a few non-Mexican options like a club sandwich.
The significantly larger city of Las Cruces (population: 113,000), 52 miles southwest of the park has more to offer. In the historic Old Mesilla neighborhood once an Old West border town, Billy the Kid stood trial for murder. The neighborhood’s can’t-miss centerpiece is the Basilica of San Albino, an adobe cathedral finished in 1908. The area around the city brims with pecan orchards and wineries so you can easily spend more than a day here.
A good lodging bet is the moderately priced, 200-room Hotel Encanto de las Cruces designed to feel like a Spanish colonial outpost with terra-cotta tiles, stucco arches, and a bubbling fountain in an indoor courtyard. Amenities include a pool, bar, and restaurant, as well as several wheelchair-accessible rooms.
We have visited Las Cruces on numerous occasions and hace stayed at Hacienda RV Rsort and Sunny Acres RV Park. I would recommend either for anyone wanting a long term stay or just an overnight or anything in between.
The city’s dining scene tends towards Mexican as restaurants are apt to do in this part of the state. La Nueva Casita Café is an excellent choice for that cuisine. For something more upscale, with a farm-to-table vibe, try Willow + Blaine whose small but superb New American menu features items like a 6-ounce beef filet, confit duck leg. and beet gnocchi. After dinner, treat yourself at Caliche’s Frozen Custard; choose your flavor (chocolate or vanilla) then your topping, perhaps local salted pecans.
If you’re driving from Albuquerque (or the north more generally) stop at the Valley of Fires recreation area about 5 miles northwest of Carrizozo along U.S. Route 380. Here, when Little Black Peak erupted roughly 5,000 years ago a lava flow coursed through the valley creating a black strip on the landscape as the magma cooled.
Also, consider an escorted visit to White Sands Missile Range to see the test site of the world’s first atomic bomb. This open house as the military calls it happens only twice a year usually on the first Saturday of April and the third Saturday of October so check the missile range’s website for information.
You won’t see much beyond an obelisk marking the spot where the bomb went off and some trinitite (sand melted from the extreme heat of the blast) that’s preserved under a large glass case but it’s worth it to say you set foot on ground where the Atomic Age dawned. You’ll also be able to say you ventured into the seldom-seen (at least by civilians) missile range.
If you’re coming from El Paso, a road trip loop makes for a good three- to five-day trek through New Mexico. Take Interstate 10 up to Las Cruces (46 miles) then U.S. Route 70 over to White Sands National Park (52 miles). You can spend a night in Las Cruces before Whites Sands then another night in Alamogordo. From there, head over to Carlsbad via Roswell (193 miles) where the aliens crash-landed in 1947. After spending the night in Carlsbad visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park, another underrated gem in the National Park system. From there it’s only 149 miles back to El Paso.
White Sands National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience. I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you’ll soon discover the magic of this park.
Here are a few more articles to help you do just that:
Miles of trails and how many: 9 miles across five trails
Main attraction: The gypsum sand dunes
Cost: $25 per vehicle for a seven-day permit; $20 per year or $80 for a lifetime America the Beautiful Pass for people age 62-plus
Best way to see it: On foot, walking one of the many short trails through the dunes as the sun rises
When to go: Fall (September and October) or spring (March through early June) when the summer heat is not extreme and the nights are not below freezing as they can be in winter
Worth Pondering…
Life is not obvious here. It is implied, or twice removed, and must be read in signs or code. Ripple marks tell of the wind’s way with individual sand grains. Footprints, mounds, and burrows bespeak the presence of mice, pocket gophers, and foxes.
Now a hub for wellness, shopping, and outdoor adventure, Carefree, Arizona, was once a 400-acre goat farm
North of Phoenix and Scottsdale there is a small community that feels almost too good to be true. The town of under 4,000 people was once a 400-acre goat farm that the founders bought for $44,000 in 1955. Their vision was to start a community with an easygoing, airy vibe—so they named the plot of land Carefree.
Today, Carefree has the feel of a small town but is close to northern Scottsdale and less than an hour from downtown Phoenix. Because it sits at the edge of the urban area it’s easy to head north into the Sonoran Desert which has abundant hiking and camping.
And while Carefree’s location is one of its standout qualities, the town itself offers a unique feel that draws visitors year after year. Its home to the third-largest sundial in the Western Hemisphere and has a desert garden in the downtown area. There’s plenty of shopping, great food, and an undeniable artist vibe, too.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan a trip to Carefree including what to do, where to stay, and when to go.
Spending time in downtown Carefree is a must. There are shops, restaurants, and galleries to explore but the area’s biggest draw is the four-acre desert botanical garden marked with a huge sundial—one of the world’s largest.
Once you’ve got the lay of the land, head to the surrounding hills for hiking, trail running, and biking. The desert landscape of the neighboring Cave Creek Regional Park is covered in hiking paths, picnic spots, and campsites. Most weekends, there’s a bird tour, fitness hike, or wildflower walk scheduled. The park offers over 11 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Park trails range in length from 0.2 miles to 5.8 miles and range in difficulty from easy to difficult.
If you are looking for an easy, relatively short hike the Slate Trail is recommended. If you are looking for a longer, more difficult hike, try the 5.8-mile Go John Trail. The trails within the Cave Creek Regional Park are very popular with dramatic elevations and spectacular views of the surrounding plains.
The campground consists of 55 campsites for tent or RV camping. The average site size is 40 feet; however, pull-through sites may accommodate up to a 60-foot RV with water and electrical hookups, a picnic table, and a barbecue fire ring. Cave Creek Regional Park provides clean restrooms with flush toilets and hot water showers. A dump station is available for use by registered campers at no additional cost.
Four miles north of town, Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area offers a similar cactus-covered landscape with seven miles of trails that are open to hikers, bikers, and people on horseback. Park trails range in length from 1.2 miles to 4.6 miles and range in difficulty from easy to difficult.
One of the last remaining year-round spring-fed streams in Cave Creek flows through Spur Cross. Its banks are covered with plants and trees including mesquite, cottonwoods, and willows. Abundant water and plant life make this a home to many species of animals including javelina, mule deer, and coyotes. Over 80 species of birds have been observed in this habitat, per Audubon bird counts. Beyond the banks of the stream lies one of the region’s densest stands of saguaro cactus.
The park contains nearly 90 archaeological sites used by the Hohokam Indians between 700-1200 A.D. Hohokam petroglyphs dot the area. Both the Hopi and the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian communities have identified the Spur Cross Ranch as a sacred place.
Meanwhile, 12 miles to the southeast, Brown’s Ranch Trail in the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is known for its unique rock features including the impossible-looking Balanced Rock and Cathedral Rock. This trailhead features interpretive exhibits about the human history of the Preserve and serves as the major access point to the vast network of trails in the area. It provides access to such unique destinations as Granite Mountain, Cholla Mountain, and Brown’s Mountain as well as the before-mentioned Balanced Rock and Cathedral Rock.
Located in the mountains 20 miles east of Carefree, Bartlett Lake was formed by the damming of the Verde (Spanish for green) River. The pristine waters of the Verde were spoken of descriptively in legends of the Indians of the valley who called the water sweet waters. The lake is framed by Sonoran desert scenery with gently sloping beaches on the west side and the rugged Mazatzal Mountains on the east side, studded with saguaro, cholla cacti, mesquite, and ocotillo.
A fair portion of the west side of the reservoir is devoted to camping and picnicking. Bartlett has been a favorite with anglers since Bartlett Dam was constructed in 1939. Several state-record fish have been caught there.
If hiking and biking are not your thing, spend some time exploring the shops and galleries of Carefree. Start your day at the historic Spanish Village which is both one of Carefree’s oldest buildings and the community’s arts and culture hub. Inside the beautiful white stucco gates, you’ll find gems like the Desert Moon Market, an eclectic collection of women’s clothing, jewelry, home goods, and gifts, and the Grace Renee Gallery which showcases contemporary paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and jewelry. You also won’t want to miss a visit to the M & E Stoyanov Fine Art Gallery in downtown Carefree or The Lazy Lizard which sells a mix of new and used home furnishings.
The above-mentioned Cave Creek Regional Park offers a clean and quiet family campground set among Saguaro cactus, mesquite trees, and cholla cactus. The park includes 2,922 acres with a visitor center, several hiking trails, equestrian trails, and various programs throughout the year.
The campground has 59 campsites all with electricity and water. Campsites 1-38 are larger campsites and also have paved parking pads. Campsites 30-55 (and E, F, G, H) are smaller and have gravel parking pads. Sites 10 and 20 have horse corrals. Each campsite also has a table, fire ring, and grill. Campground amenities include flush toilets, hot showers, a picnic area, and a dump station. Cell service is good.
Like Scottsdale, Carefree has become a hub for wellness seekers looking to reset and relax in the open desert atmosphere. Civana, a wellness resort and spa to the east of Carefree has been a top destination for many. Guests get access to more than 10 daily complimentary classes—from a desert hike to aerial yoga—and a spa with a hydrotherapy thermal circuit of hot and cold pools.
Just to the south of Carefree in Scottsdale is a property that’s worth a mention. The Boulders Resort & Spa has long been recognized for its 33,000-square-foot spa, two golf courses, six dining options, four outdoor pools, and a location at the foot of an eye-catching rock formation.
For such a small town, there’s a surprisingly large selection of cafes, restaurants, and bars in Carefree. It’s all about healthy eats with big flavor at Confluence, a well-loved restaurant with open-air patio seating and a standout tasting menu—you can choose from four, five, or seven courses.
Those looking to fill up on protein following a long day on the trails should head to Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse which has a meat-heavy menu and a rooftop deck designed for post-meal stargazing. Meanwhile, for an entirely different feel, book a table at the English Rose Tea Room which serves tea-time ready fare (think quiches, sandwiches, soups, and salads) in a beautiful, floral-laden tearoom with crystal chandeliers.
Although Carefree tends to be cooler than Phoenix, it’s still super hot in the summer with the average temperature in June, July, and August in the triple digits. The best time to visit is easily the spring before the heat of summer sets in and in the fall when the weather cools down. Those looking for cooler weather should come during the winter when the average monthly temperature is in the mid-60s.
Worth Pondering…
To my mind these live oak-dotted hills fat with side oats grama, these pine-clad mesas spangled with flowers, these lazy trout streams burbling along under great sycamores and cottonwoods, come near to being the cream of creation.
As we move further into 2024 there are all sorts of opportunities to learn new skills.
Whether you want to become a sommelier or professional photographer there’s a world of new skills out there to master and I’m here to spur your imagination.
This is a list of 14 awesome new skills to learn in 2024.
Photography is a lot of fun and it’s also a valuable skill.
Whether you want to start with just learning the basics of snapping better photos on your smartphone or are looking to upgrade to a professional camera, there are many wonderful resources to become a great photographer.
I recommend starting with this list of helpful articles:
Nowadays it’s all about text messages and e-mails but back in the day people sent these incredible things called letters. And to send them they used stamps.
Stamps are actually very cool and collecting stamps teaches you so much about history, geography, and the world.
Growing up my uncle got me into stamp collecting and I just loved getting packages of stamps from him and fitting them into the stamp collecting book.
It’s easy to get started in just a few simple steps. You don’t have to buy expensive equipment to enjoy this hobby. Some simple stamp-collecting accessories will serve you well.
You’ll need some stamps to get started but it makes sense to spend more on stamps and a lot less on equipment than vice versa. The basic equipment I recommend includes:
A pair of stamp tongs or tweezers
Magnifying glass
Stamp albums
Hinges (small gummed strip that’s used to fix a stamp to the page of an album)
You know what would go down really smooth right now?
A nice, classy, delicious glass of wine! Red, white, rose, you name it!
If you want to take it up a notch, learn the art of being a sommelier, a professional wine taster who is also an expert in pairing wines with food and grading them.
Even if you don’t do it as a job it’s an impressive skill to have.
Are your taste buds tingling? I have some articles on wineries, wine regions, and wine tasting:
Another excellent skill to try out is smoking. I don’t mean cigarettes or cigars, of course, I mean food!
Smoking meat is a stupendous skill and the result is mouth-wateringly delicious meats. You will need a smoker but it’s well worth the money and the variety of flavors of smoke you can do is amazing.
You don’t need a decade of practice to get the hang of smoking but it’s more demanding than a round of grilled cheese. First, there’s the heat—you’ll want the temperature low over a long period. And then there’s the smoke—you need to keep it smoking for hours.
In addition to hardwood and charcoal, you’ll also want:
A culinary brush used to swab meat with sauce
A mop, a tool that looks like a miniature mop that is used to apply sauce
A rib rack (if you plan on smoking ribs)
I expect to be invited over later to share in the tasty treats.
Blogs are very rewarding and interesting and almost anyone can write one!
As for the subject matter think about what you love, hate, find funny, or what makes you unique.
Then write, video, and post photos about it on your blog. Readers will start coming and taking a look at what you’re up to.
6. Start journaling
Keeping a journal is something I’ve done for years.
But I will say that the journaling I have done has been rewarding and helped me get my thoughts in order. There’s just something about getting your words on the page that helps clarify various situations, thoughts, and even dreams.
Inner peace is underrated. When you feel good about yourself many things fall into place and even those aspects of life which are kicking your ass stop crushing you so badly.
You get back in the driver’s seat of life refocus on what’s in your control and rediscover that inner peace that’s so vital to survival and thriving.
Inner peace is a skill we could all use more of, 100 percent.
Knitting is nifty and you can learn it in no time flat.
Whether you embark on an ambitious project like knitting a sweater or something simpler like a small scarf, knitting is an enjoyable and absorbing activity. Try out knitting and see how it goes.
9. Become a biker
One of the best exercises you can do is bicycling. For less than you think you can be outfitted with a mountain or road bike, a helmet, and a nifty backpack to go on short trips.
Then head out into the fresh air and enjoy our beautiful planet.
Get started with cycling today.
10. Practice better planning
Planning is a skill that ties all sorts of other skills together. When you get better at planning you get better at…well…everything.
There are simple things like keeping an agenda, various online scheduling tools, making a vision board, and more but there are also techniques and mindsets which will help you plan more consistently in your life.
Having a few good days is enjoyable but having a life of healthy habits can add years to your longevity and make the time you have on our planet all the more amazing.
Picking up healthy habits for longevity isn’t just about exercise, a healthy diet, and breathing well, either. It’s also about healing and owning those difficult emotions and experiences that challenge us in life and optimizing our mental and emotional health.
Let’s call this self-actualization.
12. Learn to canoe or kayak
If you want to learn to canoe or kayak your best bet is to go to an outdoors or boating store and see if they offer lessons and rentals.
Equestrian sports are an excellent hobby although they can add up in price.
Having said that, going for a trail ride and learning basic horse riding is not necessarily that expensive. If you have a love of the outdoors and have always hankered to try out horse riding there are all sorts of opportunities to try it out and see what you think.
Look for a paddock near you that offers trail rides.
There’s nothing quite as healing and spiritually revivifying as spending time in the great outdoors. Listening to the loons out on the lake and contemplating the horizon or walking a quiet forest trail as shafts of sunlight danced between the trees has a kind of magic that nothing else can match.
Nature has been linked with the divine and with spiritual regeneration since the earliest days of humankind and it’s still a place of refuge and peace every day for people all across the world.
As Taoism founder Lao Tzu put it: Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
An amazing insight for all of us to ponder!
Worth Pondering…
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
New Year’s resolutions have long been a way to take stock of what’s truly important in our lives, allowing us to pause and reflect on the year behind us as well as plan for the year ahead
I want to make a New Year’s prayer, not a resolution. I’m praying for courage.
—Susan Sontag
For many people, New Year’s Day is a time to set a goal or resolution for the coming year. But for writer, filmmaker, and activist Susan Sontag, a prayer was a more fitting mantra for January 1. This poignant quote, published in As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh, a collection of Sontag’s journals and diaries written between 1964 and 1980, captures a sense of yearning for courage to face the unknown. It’s an honest and vulnerable feeling anyone can relate to seeking the bravery and strength to press on.
As each New Year arrives, many of us find ourselves swept up in the excitement of a fresh start. But the potential can sometimes turn to pressure as we set grand (and often unrealistic) New Year’s resolutions. While detailing specific goals—like vowing to get healthy, cutting back on TV or social media time, and finally pursuing that big dream you’ve had—works for many, others may benefit from a different approach.
Marriage and family therapist Paula Delehanty recommends framing resolutions as practices instead of restrictions. The resolution could be, “I’m going to practice smiling more”. The emphasis is not on how can I improve myself but rather on how can I add to my happiness.
I’ve selected six science-backed practices that can help add to your happiness this year—and every year. Some you may already have on your radar, like giving back, giving thanks, and nurturing your relationships but I also suggest adding camping and hiking to your list.
The Greek storyteller Aesop once wrote, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”—and a new study is proof. The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, shows that small kind gestures can have a significant impact on recipients even if givers don’t typically realize it.
Researchers conducted a series of experiments involving different situations and participants. In each they studied how people perceived various small acts of kindness such as offering someone a ride home, baking them cookies, or paying for a cup of coffee. They consistently found those on the receiving end of a kind gesture appreciated it more than the giver had anticipated.
This one is a win-win for all involved. Volunteering has been linked to a longer lifespan, increased happiness, and even lower blood pressure. And research has shown that donating money activates the pleasure centers in the brain.
In 1938, scientists began tracking Harvard University sophomores during the Great Depression to understand what makes for a long and happy life. Almost 80 years later, in 2017, they had their answer: “Our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health,” study author Dr. Robert Waldinger said at the time.
And relationships aren’t limited to only friends and family. We form them with campground staff and grocery store workers as well as with animals and the environment. It’s about connection and how genuinely we connect.
3. Give thanks
Each day, pause and take stock of your good fortune. Regularly practicing gratitude has been linked to greater social connectedness, improved physical health, and decreased stress, according to an expert in the science of gratitude at the USC Marshall School of Business. To reap the benefits of regular gratitude 13 tips are offered including keeping a gratitude journal and finding a gratitude rock.
How’s that for a resolution you can keep? Science has shown that music can both positively affect our well-being and connect us to others. Neurological researchers have found that listening to music triggers the release of several neurochemicals that play a role in brain function and mental health.
Board certified music therapist Elisha Ellis Madsen suggests creating playlists to promote and encourage specific behaviors. For example, a morning playlist “that sets the tone for the day with positive and uplifting tunes,” and another to help you relax you as you prepare for bed.
She also recommends singing. The act “reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and releases endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine (feel-good hormones).”
A road trip wouldn’t be a road trip without a good old sing-along. Whilst on the road, regardless of how you sound, singing at the top of your lungs is just de rigueur it’s road trip law!
Exercise is great for personal health. It’s no secret that physical movement benefits the body and the mind: Exercise triggers a release of endorphins that can help alleviate some effects of anxiety and depression. Health Guide reports that physical exercise can also boost your mood, improve your sleep, and help you deal with depression, anxiety, stress, and more.
Trading in your car for a bicycle or pair of walking shoes is a simple way to increase the amount of exercise you get. Bicyclists are less prone to dying early than those individuals who do not ride, at all. At least one study found that spending one hour a day on a bike can reduce your risk of death by 18 percent. Adding an extra half an hour to your routine can drop your risk of death by nearly 28 percent.
What about walking? Simply choosing to add in some extra steps during your day can also lower your risk of death. One study found that walking can reduce the risk of death by 39 percent.
Spending time outdoors isn’t just a good way to have fun—it’s good for you. Studies show there are real health benefits to heading outdoors for an adventure. Experience the healing power of nature while camping.
After just 20 minutes connected to nature, people can experience a drop in stress hormones.
Scientists have found that when you wake up with the sun rising and go to bed when the sun goes down, your body can reset to your natural sleep cycle- providing you with your exact sleep needs.
Time in nature can increase vitality, boost your mood and increase your overall well-being.
Spending time with friends and family without the daily distractions can lead to a renewed closeness and appreciation for your loved ones.
Along with setting up your campsite, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and canoeing are so much fun you won’t even realize you are exercising.
Worth Pondering…
Whether you like them or not, New Year’s resolutions are great to create a positive change in your life.
Hiking, camping, and biking are among the many outdoor activities at Canyonlands National Park
Nowhere are the shape-shifting powers of water, wind, and rock more dramatically on display than in Canyonlands National Park in southeast Utah. This immense expanse of the Colorado Plateau has been etched by the Green and Colorado Rivers into a relief panel of chiseled buttes, twisted rock spires, and deeply incised canyons.
Here, millions of years of geologic upheaval, compression, and erosion have left behind a magical landscape where you can peek into caves; wander between rock formations resembling castles, towers, and fantastical creatures; and slip through canyons narrow enough to touch both sides.
Human history also comes alive in Canyonlands National Park with archaeological evidence of human habitation dating back more than 10,000 years. Native tribes, pueblos, and communities are associated with the land in a region that served as hunting grounds for early hunter-gatherers and then home to the Ancestral Puebloan people. This heritage is still apparent in the park with ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs, and trails that have been traveled for centuries.
Canyonlands was established as a national park in 1964. It owes much of its more recent history to the role of mining in this part of the American West.
But uranium, not gold or silver, lured fortune-seekers to this isolated and intimidating region—the chemical element was in high demand during the 1950s and early ’60s. Ultimately, however, little uranium was mined here although the 1,000 miles of roads funded by the Atomic Energy Commission opened up the inner canyons to exploration and convinced locals that this geological wonderland deserved protection and preservation.
The largest of Utah’s five red rock national parks at 337,598 acres, Canyonlands is essentially three parks in one separated by the Green and Colorado rivers which come together in a confluence near the center of the park.
No roads connect the sections of the park (each has its own entrance) and no bridges span the rivers.
Depending on your time and how much you want to explore on foot or by driving, you may do as most visitors do and limit your experience to just two sections: Island in the Sky, a high mesa that comprises the park’s northern end and The Needles on the park’s southeast side, named for its impossibly spindly rock spires.
The third area, the rugged and remote labyrinth of canyons on the park’s southwestern side deservedly called The Maze requires four-wheel-drive to go beyond the ranger station and is a favorite among advanced hikers (steep and unmarked trails) and backcountry campers.
Within the park boundaries, the Colorado River shoots through the sheer-sided chasm of Cataract Canyon creating Class V rapids. While Big Drops and Satan’s Gut challenge even the most experienced rafters, quieter stretches provide plenty of fun for families and novice rafters.
Sitting atop a mesa more than 1,000 feet above the surrounding lands, the Island in the Sky district is one of the most popular of Canyonland’s sections. There, a scenic drive zigzags around the rim providing one dramatic canyon view after another. When arriving from Moab in the north many visitors start at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center just inside the park. There you can see fauna, flora, and geology exhibits; watch an introductory video to the park; and check out the schedule of ranger programming.
The Needles, named for its layers of spiky sandstone striped in gold and ocher, has its visitor center inside the entrance to this section about 74 miles southeast of Moab. The Maze, on the park’s western side, is served by the Hans Flat Ranger Station where you’ll find a small selection of books and maps, a vault toilet, and a picnic table. There are no paved roads there although the unpaved path to the station is navigable with two-wheel drive; its other roads require a four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle.
As a high-desert region of the Colorado Plateau, Canyonlands National Park experiences extreme climate and weather fluctuations. It’s not uncommon for days to top 100 degrees in summer with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s and 50s. Spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) are temperate and pleasant with daytime temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 and nights dipping from the 50s down to the 30s.
In the winter, daytime temperatures average 30 to 50 degrees while temperatures at night average 20 to zero. The region also experiences a monsoon in late summer and early fall with sudden heavy rains and possible flash floods.
Winter is an overlooked opportunity to visit Canyonlands and not just because you’ll share the landscape with fewer people. Take that beautiful red rock and the gorgeous blue sky, put a dusting of powder white snow on it, and you’ll see it’s even more stunning. The park is an all-season hiking destination since snow accumulation rarely exceeds more than a few inches deep but the park recommends winter hikers use traction devices on their shoes since trails can be slippery.
There is some cellphone coverage along the Island in the Sky scenic drive depending on carrier but cell service is limited to nonexistent in the canyons and on remote trails. There is little to no service in the Needles and almost none in The Maze except at the ranger station. Wi-Fi is available at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center.
You’ll find the park’s top views strung along Island in the Sky scenic drive which makes a Y shape with access to Whale Rock. Because the shapes and perspectives shift so much as you move around the mesa you won’t want to skip any of the main overlooks which include Green River, Buck Canyon, and Grand View Point.
Hundreds of miles of trails varying in length and difficulty thread through Canyonland’s diverse terrain. The most-visited are in Island in the Sky including the Mesa Arch Trail, a 0.6-mile easy hike round trip leading to the park’s iconic photo op as the cliff-side arch frames the canyon below.
Another hike in this section is the moderately challenging, 1.4-mile Aztec Butte Trail which traverses a flat and sandy wash before ascending around 200 feet to reach an Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site.
At Grand View Point, the southernmost end and turnaround point of the Island in the Sky scenic drive, the level and comfortable 1.8-mile Grand View Trail winds along the mesa rim between expanses of slick rock and stands of gnarled and stunted piñon. Thanks to the elevation, this is one of the best views in the park.
In Needles district, trails spiderweb among the spindly rock towers and gnarled outcrops. When you’re in The Needles, you’re down in the canyon walking among all these otherworldly landforms and sculptural formations instead of looking down on them from the mesa. This also means many of the trails are easier because there’s less elevation change since you don’t have to hike down into the canyon and back up.
A top pick for a shorter hike is the Cave Spring Trail, a 0.6-mile round trip past a natural underground spring with prehistoric rock markings and the remnants of a historic cowboy camp. Other favorites include the Chesler Park Trail, a 5.4-mile loop through knobby sherbet-colored hoodoos, and the 8.6-mile Lost Canyon Trail which loops among eerily twisted formations.
The park’s two popular spots for sunrise and sunset viewing are Grand View Point Overlook and White Rim Overlook, the last two stops on the Island in the Sky scenic drive. The Grand View Point Overlook has great views just steps from its parking lot but it’s an easy 1.8-mile hike to White Rim’s overlook where fewer people interrupt the peace of the dusk.
Go stargazing
Designated an International Dark Sky Park from DarkSky International, formerly the International Dark-Sky Association, in 2015, Canyonlands National Park goes a level beyond with a Gold-Tier designation reserved for the parks with the darkest skies. The park stays open all night so stargazers can see the spectacle with stargazing programs scheduled during summer. Some are listed in the park calendar but it’s best to check at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center for updated activities.
Visitors are encouraged to take a DIY approach to stargazing. Every night that isn’t cloudy there is a dark-sky show in the park whether there is a ranger there or not. On a moonless night, all you have to do is pull off the road, turn your back to the direction of Moab where there’s a little glow, and you’ll see stars and constellations you’ve never seen before.
An ever-expanding network of mountain bike trails has turned the area into a bucket-list destination for riders. You’re surrounded by trails everywhere you look and there is so much to do at every skill level. A favorite ride is the Dead Horse Point Singletrack Loop trail which starts in Dead Horse Point State Park north of Canyonlands and continues into the park winding over terraced buttes that afford dramatic views of the valley spreading below.
Experienced mountain bikers come to the park specifically to ride all or part of Island in the Sky’s White Rim Road which drops into the canyon and traces a 100-mile loop along the mesa, its ragged red cliffs towering above.
Some visitors choose to see Canyonlands National Park and its iconic Cataract Canyon on rafting trips. Accessing Canyonlands by river is a way to get down in the heart of the canyon and see some things in the park that you wouldn’t see otherwise. Wildlife sightings are common with bighorn sheep frequenting the slopes above the river and bald eagles soaring overhead.
Western River Expeditions offers two- and four-day trips to the canyon both traversing the stretch of the Colorado River from Moab. Shorter rafting experiences that explore stretches of the Colorado River outside the park are available from Moab Adventure Center and other Moab-based outfitters such as Mild to Wild Rafting and Adrift Adventures.
Older adults and those who prefer tamer rafting could check out J-Rig trips. The J-Rigs are really big rafts with a lot of different seating flexibility and people can sit 20 feet back in the raft if they want a quieter experience,
With numerous camping options, an RV trip to Canyonlands is a breeze.
Let’s start with identifying the best time to plan your Canyonlands camping trip.
Winter can be challenging due to low temperatures that could harm an RV’s water system. Additionally, snow and ice can make travel difficult and potentially dangerous.
Summer camping in Canyonlands is a popular choice. However, Utah’s summer heat requires ample water and cooling methods. Note that in-park campgrounds do not offer hookups so if you need to run your RV air conditioner, consider staying outside the park.
I recommend spring and fall for Canyonlands camping. During these seasons, you’ll experience sunny days and cool nights, perfect for dry camping. If possible, plan your visit in April, May, October, or November.
Now that you know the best times for your Canyonlands camping adventure, let’s explore the best places to camp. The area offers a variety of options including in-park campgrounds, boondocking, and full-service RV parks.
Island in the Sky Campground is a small in-park campground near the visitor center. It offers 12 first-come, first-served campsites at $15 per night. While there are no hookups, you’ll find potable water outside the visitor center and amenities like toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings in the campground. This is really not a big rig-friendly campground but it is easy to maneuver and there are a couple spots that will accommodate a big rig.
The Needles Campground, another in-park option, offers 26 individual campsites and three group sites. Reservations are accepted from spring through fall with first-come, first-served availability during the rest of the year. The camping fee is $20 per night and amenities include toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings.
For free camping on government-owned land just a few minutes outside of Canyonlands National Park, consider Gemini Bridges Road Designated Dispersed Campsites. While amenities are non-existent, the location between two national parks and proximity to Moab makes it a fantastic choice for boondocking.
If you prefer a full-service camping experience, Sun Outdoors Downtown Moab is an excellent choice. Located in the heart of Moab, you can easily access shopping and dining. The campground offers full-hookup sites, a swimming pool, and clean restrooms with showers, ensuring a comfortable stay.
Most visitors to Canyonlands National Park base their stay in the lively outdoor adventure hub of Moab, the largest town (population 5,321) near the park. Once a ranching community and later a base of uranium mining, Moab has transformed into a hipster hangout with the arrival of mountain bikers and outdoor adventurers. It now buzzes with lively brewpubs and a constant stream of festivals and events such as the Moab Folk Festival in early November.
Never gone mountain biking before and want to try it? Rent a bike from one of Moab’s many cycle shops and ask directions to the Courthouse Wash Loop, an easy seven- to 10-mile (depending on preference) circuit around a wide-open bluff northwest of Moab. It’s gentle terrain with a little bit of singletrack, a little bit of slickrock, and a little bit of everything, so you can experience what riding here is all about.
Moab offers a wide range of camping and lodging options as well as an up-and-coming food scene for some creative dining.
Come morning, before heading into the park fuel up on pastries, huevos rancheros, or a sunrise panini at Love Muffin Café. After your exploring, quench your thirst with ales, IPAs, and stouts, and savor flavorful burgers in the capacious dining room at Moab Brewery or line up for crispy fried chicken and waffle fries at Doughbird.
If you’re planning to focus most of your time in the Needles District, the quiet mountain town of Monticello, 49 miles southeast of the Needles Park entrance offers several quality RV parks including Mountain View RV Park and Campground and Devil’s Canyon Campground.
Take a slight detour on the way to Island in the Sky from Moab to Dead Horse Point State Park. The park provides one of the best views in the area from a peninsula like spur that sticks out over a branch of the same Colorado River canyon country as Canyonlands National Park.
When traveling to Canyonlands from the north replace the more direct U.S. Highway 191 with a tour down State Route 128, the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway. The route traverses broad valleys that may look familiar from starring roles in numerous Western films and presents a stunning photo op at a red rock Fisher Towers silhouetted against the La Sal Mountains.
Most people traveling to Canyonlands National Park combine their visit with Arches National Park, 26 miles to the northeast. The two parks make a perfect complement, doubling the fantastical appeal of water-carved, wind-burnished, and ice-chiseled rock markings.
Canyonlands National Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience. I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you’ll soon discover the magic of this park.
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